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The Nation has been embroiled with the Government of Canada regarding disputed land claims for decades. Their primary complaint is that oil and gas development on or near their land has dangerously threatened their way of life, their culture, and the health of those in their community.[1]Amnesty International has commented on the struggle of the Lubicon by issuing a report imploring the Canadian government to respect the land rights of the Lubicon. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has found Canada in violation of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights They have repeated their call for Canada to take immediate action to avoid irreparable damage. This call was first made by the UN Human Rights Committee in 1990 in a case known as Lubicon Lake Band v Canada and was repeated in 2003 and 2006. This struggle has been described in a book, Last Stand of the Lubicon Cree, by John Goddard. Repeated attempts to gerrymander and politically overthrow Lubicon leadership especially that led by internationally renowned Chief Bernard Ominayak have been organized by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta and documented by the Lubicon Lake Nation.[2][3]

The current Chief of the Lubicon Lake Nation is Chief Bernard Ominayak. Ominayak was re-elected Chief on May 30, 2013 in the most recent Lubicon Lake Nation General Election. [4]

As has been practiced in the past, the Canadian government refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the Nation government and has attempted to divide and recreate the Lubicon into Indian Act styles of governance. [5] These processes led to the creation of the Woodland Cree band and reserve as well as the Loon River Cree reserve. [6][7][8] Ominayak has been the chief of the small first nation since the 1970s. Prior to this, Chief Walter Whitehead served the Lubicon before stepping aside to allow Ominayak to run for the position. [9] Whitehead now sits on the Lubicon Lake Nation Elders' Council who provide guidance and advise to the Nation government in accordance with Lubicon tradition, custom and law.[10] The Nation has 5 elected Councillors: Bryan Laboucan, Alphonse Ominayak, Dwight Gladue, Larry Ominayak and Dwight Jordie Sawan.[11]

The Alberta government estimated in 2009 that only 32 people from the Lubicon Lake Band lived on reserve, one of the smallest on-reserve populations of any First Nation in the province.[12] This is because the Lubicon Lake Nation live on their own sovereign territory which has never been ceded under treaty to the Canadian crown and as such do not have a "reserve."[13] The 32 person estimate released by the Alberta provincial government is likely related to members living on other First Nation reserves. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada numbers indicate 274 Lubicon members living on their Traditional Lands.[14] Neither of the Government released numbers are likely to be accurate as the Federal Government has a documented history of denying Lubicon membership status and numbers in order to control the size of any future settlement. [15]

Since the 1980s, there was a division in the Nation, solidified with the formation of the Little Buffalo band. Steven Noskey led a council created in 2009. The Lubicon Lake Nation Council continued to be led by Chief Bernard Ominyak. On the week of July 23, 2012, Noskey notified the Canadian government that he was stepping down, leaving Ominyak as the sole chief for the nation. This leadership resolution was ratified in writing by the majority of Lubicon citizens.[16]